Moored mine and magnetically actuated firing means therefor



May 10, 1960 M. STIMLER 2,935,943

MOORED MINE AND MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED FIRING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

WW9?" FIG.5.

INVENTOR.

MORTON STIMLER BY ATTYS.

May 10, 1960 STIMLER 2,935,943

MOORED MINE AND MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED FIRING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In a INVENTOR.

g MORTON STIMLER ATTYsf ntent of any royalties thereon or therefor.

tached toa'moving vessel.

, the hull of a moving vessel.

, "ling the magnet with the mine; r [Fig 4, is a sectionalview of afiring switch suitablefon,

7 oonnn Mm AND mesmcnmtew,

' t ATED FIG BEANS- THEREFOR Morton Stimler, Hyattsville, Md assignortothe ,United,

the Secretary of Statesof America as represented by the Navy ApplicationMarch 31,1958, Serial No. 725,455

. 8 Claims. 01; 102-13 7 (Granted under Title 35, us. Code 1952 see.266) invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United-States" of America for governmentalpurposes without the payar o operation by movement of themagnet of Fig.3 away:-

' from theminerand Fig. is a firing; circuit suitable for use withthedeviceof the present invention. 1

r Referring now-to the drawings on which like numerals of referenceare-employed to designate like or similar parts and more particularlyto" Fig. 1 thereof, there is- .,This-invention relatesto a 'mooredmarine mine and a more particularly to a moored mine having a pluralityof, 1 magnetic devices. carried thereby for firing the mine in responseto movement thereof away frorn'the' mine when I at least one of thedevices has become magnetically at'-' In devices of this type heretoforeproposed'it has been the usual practice to provide the mine with aplurality of projections or antennae projecting therefrom containingampules having a quantity of acid therein and adapted to firethe mine asthe ampules are broken by contact with a vessel or a large fish, as thecasemay be.-: Incertain other types of prior art mines, contact ofthe-vessel with'an electrpdecarried by the mine or secured theretocauses the min etc be firfed by sea battery action or otherwise. Whilethese-devices have proved generally satisfactory under most conditionsof service they are subject to accidental firing by contact with alargefish.

The device of the present invention possesses all-,ofthe advantages ofthe prior artdeyices of this general characterm which the mine isactuated by actual contact with the hull of the vessel and'in additionthereto possesses the additional advantage ofsimplicity and reliabilityin operation and the additional: advantages of an initial low cost.

In accordance with the present invention the moored mine is providedwith a plurality of outstanding antennae, each of which has a permanentmagnet movably carried at the outermost extremity thereof and ofsufiicient strength to actuate a firing switch to closed position'when'the magnet becomes attached magnetically to the hull of a, moving vesselas will more clearly appear as the description proceeds. V, v 1,

One of the objects of the presentinvention is the provi-.' sion vof amoored mine having a new and improved mag netically actuated firingmechanism therein. j Another object is'to fire a mine" in response tomovement of-a permanent magnet carried thereby as the magnet moves awayfrom the mine by magnetic attraction to shown thereon a pairof mooredmines each indicated generally by the numeral 10 and preferably havingan arm 11 secured thereto at one end thereof for 'establishing a mooringconnection by way of cable 12 to anchor 13..

The mine is providedwith a flotation chamber constructedandarranged insuch a manner as to maintain the mine in: a horizontal position withinthe Water when the mine'is moored: The uppermost mine, as viewed in Fig.1-, is

moored at a depth beneath the surface of-the water sufficient' forengagement with the hull of the vessel 14 and the lowermost mine isof adepth adapted to be engaged bythe hull of /a submarine such as {thesubmarine 15 illustrated. Y

V As more. clearly shown on Fig. 2, the mine comprises a cylintlricalcasing- 16 having an-explosive charge 17 therein adapted to be fired bythe operation of; an electroresponsive detonator 18 as:a firingcurrentvis applied thereto. The explosive charge 17 is contained withina chamber 19 defined by thecasing 16 and a partition or wall structure21 in such manner as to leave'a buoyancy space or chamber 22 sufiicientto maintain the mine'in ahorizontal moored condition. V 5

.The mine isprovidedwith a plurality of antennae fgenerally indicatedat23, each ofzthe antennae comprising a 'fleXible hose-like member24-cornposed of rubber or any of the synthetic varieties thereofsuitable for'the purpose and having one end thereof secured as by clamp30 to a' nipple 25 projecting outwardly from the mine'casing and securedthereto in any convenient manner as by welding the parts togetherzf Theother end ofthe hose-like me mber is disposed within share 26 formedwithin connector 27 and secured thereto 'in any suitable manner as bythe clamp 28 threaded thereonto which theelongatedhose member 24 isclamped as by the bolts 29, Fig. 3.' The connector 27 is provided with asecond bore. 31 within* which is slideably disposed a guide or plunger32 having a rod 33 connected thereto and looped atthe outer end thereoffor pivotal engagement with eye bolt-34. The plunger 32 is yieldablymaintained in a retracted position by spring 35 until moved therefrom bya pull on;permanent magnet 36 to which eye bolt 34 is connectedas bythe-nut 37. The spring 35 is maintained in a compressed condition by acap 38 having an aperture 39 rtherein of I sufiicient size to allow freesliding movement of rod- '33 therein, the cap being secured .totheconnector in any suitable manner as by the boltsfAl. The plunger. 32 isconnected by a thin' flexible liner42 secured thereto to a firing switch43 preferably disposed within the mine cas 7 ing, and secured theretoiasbythe. bolts 44, Fig. 4,

Still other objects, advantages and improvements;will,i- Iv becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings ,of which:

net ,element secured to the hull of a vessel by magnetic;

attraction and the supporting means therefor interconnect:

preferred; embodiment ;'I'l1e'-firing. switch"may be of'any typesuitable for the 'purpose, such for'eXam-ple, as the switchillustratedin which a lever arm 45 actuates a pair of contacts to closed positionin response to a force applied thereto, movement of the arm to aninitial position causing the contacts to open The lever arm 45 ispreferably enclosed within a flexible jacket or sleeve 46 havinganefitension 47' formed thereon to which one end of the line 42 is.secured, a. retractile spring 48-=being employed to yieldably maintainthe switch arm in an initial unoperated position until moved therefromby a forceor pullapplied to line 42.

The jacket 46 is formed preferably integral with a: gasket 49 disposedbetween a clamping member 40 held by the.,.' screwse and the surface ofwall 51 to provide a watertightconnection therebetween and prevententrance of 2,935,943? V Patented May 10,

3 the water into the switch 43., The switch is provided with a pair ofterminals 52 for establishing a plurality of external electricalconnections thereto.

There isalso provided within the casing 16 a hydro stat indicatedgenerally by the numeral 53, Fig; 2, adapted to closearming switch.514,. at theexpira tion of a predetermined interval of time after themine has been planted. A battery 55, is secured to the inner casing ofthe mine and operatively connected to the hydrostatically con: trolledswitch 54 and the firing switches 43. For a more complete understandingof this wiring arrangement, reference is now had to Fig. 5 on which isshown in diagrammatic form a circuit arrangement suitable for use withthe device of thepresent invention in which the'battery. 55 is connectedat one terminal thereof to one contact of arming switch 54 from whence,the circuit'is continued to one terminal of detonator 13 and thence by.way. of the firing switches. 43 inparallel to the other terminal ofbattery 55;

From the foregoing it will be apparent that afterthe mine has beenmoored and the arming switch 54' thereof closed by hydrostatic pressure,the mine will be fired by operation of any of the switches 43 as themagnet 36 thereof is pulled away from the outer end of the antenna bymagnetic attraction 'to the hull of a moving. vessel. When this occurs acircuit is closed to fire the detonatcr and explode the mine.

While the invention has been described with particuiarity with referenceto a cylindrical mine which has a pair of antennae diametricallydisposed projecting from one .end'portion thereof and a second pair ofantennae diametrically disposed and projecting exteriorly from the otherend of the mine, it is not so limited as, if'desired, the mine may bespherical or of other outward configuration and various arrangements ofantennae and various different numbers of antennae may be employed, ifde? sired. Furthermore, while the invention has been described withreference to a pair of mines moored by a single mooring cable, it willbe understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustrationand that the number of mines moored by the anchor may be greater or lessthan the number illustrated.-

'Whereas the invention has been described with particularity withreference to one example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it isnot so limited as it will be understood by one skilled in the art, afterunderstanding the invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention,and it is intended therefore, in the appended claims, to cover all suchchanges and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a marine mine, in combination, a buoyant mine, means including acablefor mooring the mine within a body of water at a depth less thanthe draft of a target vessel, a plurality of antennae projectingoutwardly from said mine and secured thereto, each of said antennaecomprising a flexible elongated tubular member, aswivel connectorsecured to the uppermost end portion of each of said antennae, apermanent magnet carried by the outwardly extending end portion of saidconnector and movable pivotally about any one of a plurality of axes andoutwardly with respect thereto, a firing switch disposed within saidmine, and a flexible line disposed within said tubular memberinterconnecting the magnet with said firing switch for causing theswitch to be actuated to a firing position in response to movement ofthe magnet away from the end of said antenna by magnetic attractionbetween the magnet and the hull of a moving vessel as the vessel movesawayfrom the mine while the mine is moored.

2. A firing mechanism for a moored mine comprising, iii-combination,- aminecasing, means including a cable for mooring said casing at apredetermined depth of submersion less than the draft of a targetvessel, a plurality of flexible antenna elements carried by said casingand projecting outwardly therefrom, each of said elements having aswivel connectorsecured to the outermost end portion thereof, apermanent magnet carried by said connector at an end portion thereof andmovable pivotallyand outwardly with respect thereto in response tomagnetic attraction between the magnet and the hull of a vessel as themagnet makes contact therewith and the vessel moves away from the minewhile the mine is moored, means for yieldably maintaining the magnet inan initial position relative to said connector, a firing switch disposedwithin said casing, and means including a flexible line disposed'withinsaid tubular member for estabiishing an operative connection betweensaid magnet and the firing switch for causing the firing switch to beclosed as the magnet is moved a predetermined distance from said endportion of the connector 3; A firing mechanism according to claim 2 inwhich said antennae are arranged in pairs at predetermined intervalsonsaid casing, each of said pair of antennae being arranged indiametrically disposed relation with respect to said casing and inpredetermined uniform spaced relation therealong.

4. A firing mechanism according to claim 3 in which means are providedfor yieldably maintaining the firing switch in an initial unoperatedposition.

5. In a moored mine, in combination, a cylindrical mine casing, meansincluding a cable for mooring said casing beneath the surface of a bodyof water at a depth of submergence less than the draft of a targetvessel, a pair of diametrically disposed flexible antennae secured tothe mine'casing and projecting outwardly therefrom, at least oneadditional pair of flexible antennae secured to the mine casing andprojecting outwardly therefrom in predetermined spaced relation withrespect to the first named pair of antennae, a permanent magnetindividual to each of said antennae, means including a swivel foryieldably and pivotally'securing the magnet to an outwardly projectingend portion of the antenna for movement away from the end thereof as themagnet engages the hull of a moving vessel while the mine is moored, aplurality of firing switches equal in number to the number of antennae,and means including a flexible line disposed within a respective one ofsaid antennae and interconnecting each of the firing switches with arespective magnet for operating the firing switch to a closed positionas the magnetconnected thereto is moved away from the end of theantenna.

6. A system for destroying an enemy surface vessel and undersea craftcomprising, in combination, an elongated cylindrical mine having'abuoyancy chamber therein so arranged as to maintain the mine in ahorizontal position when moored beneath the surface of the water, a mineanchor, a'mooring line connected to said anchor and to one end of the'mine and of suflicient length to maintain the mine completely submergedat a depth less than the depth of the keel of a target surface vessel, asecond cylindrical mine having a buoyancy chamber therein so arranged asto maintain the mine in a horizontal moored position within the water,means for connecting said second mine to the'mooring cable intermediatethe first named mine and the anchor at a depth of submersion such thatis adapted to be contacted by a submerged underwater craft, each of saidmines having a plurality of flexible tube-like antennae secured theretoand projecting outwardly therefrom, means for connecting one end of eachof said antennae to the mine such that the connected ends of eachantennae extend outwardly in a radial direction from the axis of themine, a connector comprising a rigid cylindrical member clamped inwater-,

tight connection to the upper end of each of said antennae, a plungerhaving an eye formed in the outer end thereof slideably disposed withinsaid member, means I including a spring Within the member formaintaining said plunger yieldably in a normal retracted condition, a

U-shaped magnet swivelly connected to said eye at the I mid-portionthereof -an'd-jadapted to engage the surface of mine when any one ofsaid switches is closed, said g switches being equal in number to thenumber'of said antennae and carried by the mine interiorly in a positionopposite the inner end portion of the antenna respectivelyassociatedltherewith, and a plurality of flexible lines 1respectivelydisposed within the antennae for establishing an operativeconnection. between the inner end of =said plunger and the switchassociated with the'an'te'nna carrying the connector within -whichtheplunger is disposed for closing the switch whenthe plunger is moved toan outwardly extending position with respect to the connector by thepermanent magnet to which the permanent magnet is attached withrespectto the mine while the mine is moored.

7. A system according to claim 6-in -which the any; 7 tennae arearranged in pairs, the antennae of each or said pairs being arrangeddiametrically on of the mine. i g

8 The system of claim 7 in which the pairs of anopposite sides tennaeare each disposed at ditferent positions along the 71%" axis of the mineand are oriented angularly about the axis of the mine in suchmanner-that eachpair of a'ntennae is positioned at a diiferent angle atthe point of connection thereof with the mine from each of the otherpairs of antennae.

References Cited in therfileof this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS '20322,900 Castro 'July28,

swivelly connected a thereto in response to movement of ,the targetvessel"

